Summer Home Maintenance

Summer is the perfect time to give your home a little “TLC.” Not sure where to start? Here’s a handy checklist of summer maintenance items for your home.

Clean your windows.

The warm weather is a perfect opportunity to clean your windows, which start looking grimy after a long winter of snow, ice, and rain. Wash them down inside and out.

Clean vents.

Clear out clogs and dust from dryer vents and attic vents. (Lint from dryers can accumulate over the years and create a fire hazard.)

Clean gutters.

Now is the time to remove the leaves from gutters—before heavy rains cause spillage. If you don’t feel comfortable working on a ladder or roof, hire a professional (it may not be as expensive as you think).

Pressure-wash the siding and decks.

Spray for insects.

Warm weather makes spiders, ants, and other bugs more active. Spray a layer of repellant around the outer base of the house to create a barrier.

Hose off your A/C unit.

Over time, grass clippings (and other debris) clog up the vents, making your A/C unit work harder, and costing you money in wasted energy.

Service your A/C unit.

Consider having a professional HVAC technician (like A.B. May) come to the house and service the A/C unit—which includes testing, cleaning, fixing any problems, and recharging it with freon, if necessary.

Replace the A/C filter.

It’s a good idea to do this at least 2x per year, especially if anyone in your family suffers from allergies.

Vacuum the refrigerator coils.

It may sound silly, but removing the dust and dirt actually makes your refrigerator run more smoothly—and use less energy.

Test the fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

If they don’t work, or if the alert sounds faint, replace the batteries.

Pool maintenance.

Own a pool? Now’s the time to add water, test pumps, and balance chemicals—at least 1 week before you plan to use it.